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Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Times
11 things that improve with age (including sex)
Ageing is often associated with deterioration — of health, fitness, even mental outlook. But not everything is doomed to get worse as the years go by. Here are some aspects of our health and fitness that get better from midlife onwards: Older people tend to have lower levels of anxiety and the Mental Health Foundation says that, from a peak of 28 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds, incidence of anxiety decreases steadily, with those aged 70 and over 'the least likely group' to suffer. In 2023 a brain imaging study of healthy adults aged 21-85 in NeuroImage journal showed that two interconnected regions of the brain called the dorsal and rostral anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in processing emotions, was less activated in older adults when they were shown images of faces with negative emotions. According to the Yale University team that led the trial, it suggests that older adults develop ways of quickly processing negative emotions, which reduces anxiety levels. We all know by now that muscle mass declines with age on a trajectory that, unless addressed, leads to frailty. But however old you are, it is possible to become stronger than ever. For studies in Frontiers in Physiology, a group of researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland asked a group of 65 to 75-year-olds to embark on twice-weekly full-body resistance training designed to boost their muscular strength. After three months of supervised weights sessions, they were assigned to continue with the workouts once, twice or three times a week while a control group did nothing. • I'm healthier in my sixties than I was 30 years ago: here's how Six months later even the once-a-week weightlifters had better strength as well as significant improvements in body composition (a higher muscle-to-fat ratio), cholesterol and blood sugar control. 'It is never too late to weight train,' says Dalton Wong, the personal trainer. 'If you have never done it before, it is possible to become stronger than you have been previously.' Migraines are two to three times more prevalent in women than men according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, with incidence often peaking in midlife but dropping from 60 onwards. 'Migraines can be related to certain triggers and may be exacerbated by hormone levels, the menstrual cycle and the menopause,' says Dr Dan Baumgardt, a GP and senior lecturer in the school of physiology, pharmacology and neuroscience at the University of Bristol. 'Often after the menopause, when oestrogen and progesterone levels have fallen and stabilised, sufferers see a positive change in the intensity and frequency of migraines. The same can also apply to cluster headaches [debilitating headaches that occur in cycles].' Juggling jobs, families and financial pressures creates a high daily stress load in our twenties, thirties and forties, which decreases dramatically when these stressors reduce as we age. At the same time emotional resilience improves the older we get. According to the Centre for Policy on Ageing, resilience in old age is defined as the ability to 'bounce back' to a state of equilibrium that comes from learning how to cope with and overcome adversity long term. Several studies, including one from the University of Manchester, have shown that over-64s are at least as resilient, if not more so, than people under the age of 26. Physically our body's ability to deal with stress might improve too. Psychologists at Ghent University and the University of Geneva found that during lab-based stress tests, a group of 65 to 84-year-olds not only reported feeling less stressed, but had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and a lower heart rate reaction than 18 to 30-year-olds. The actress Emma Thompson, 66, recently said: 'You need sex because it's part of your health plan, if you like. It should really be on the NHS. It should. It's so good for you.' She should have added that sex is also more satisfying from our mid-fifties onwards. Fifty-four per cent of men and 31 per cent of women over 70 in England are sexually active, with a third of these having frequent sex — at least twice a month — according to data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour. • Yes, you can have great sex after 60 — I should know It is also likely to be the best sex of their lives for many, with a study in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics finding that both men and women reported higher satisfaction with sex as they aged. Elsewhere, psychologists at the University of California discovered that women aged 55 to 80-plus reported higher orgasm satisfaction, even if levels of physical arousal had declined. 'Sex and masturbation are good for us and can indeed become more satisfying as we age,' says Joyce Harper, professor of reproductive science at University College London. 'We should make it a priority in our lives.' From our mid-thirties onwards we wage a battle against gradual age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia, that only accelerates as we progress through the decades. But a team of British exercise scientists has overturned the widespread belief that older muscles are less resilient and slower to recuperate after a hard workout. Reporting recently in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity , they showed how older muscles experience significantly less soreness and fewer biochemical signs of damage than more youthful counterparts. Contrary to expectation, results showed that post-workout soreness was consistently lower in the over-35s, with reductions of about 34 per cent after 48 hours and 62 per cent at 72 hours compared with those in the 18-25 age bracket. • Is creatine the secret weapon for midlife women? Dr Lawrence Hayes, a lecturer in physiology at Lancaster University, measured creatine kinase (CK) levels, a marker of damage to muscle cells, in the blood of participants. Typically these can take one to three days to return to normal, and until now it was believed that the process took longer past middle age. Yet in this study CK levels taken approximately 24 hours after exercise were shown to be 28 per cent lower in older adults than in the under-25s. 'We can now dispel some myths — so they won't take longer to recover, won't feel sorer and won't lose function for longer than they did at a younger age,' Hayes says. A decline in brain function is not necessarily our destiny as we age, as neuroscientists reported in a study of 702 participants aged 58 to 98 published in Nature Human Behaviour. They found that two key brain functions involved in decision-making, navigation and memory (orienting and executive inhibition) can improve as people get older. When driving a car, for example, orienting comes into play when attention shifts to any unexpected movement, such as a pedestrian or bike. Executive inhibition helps to block out distractions to stay focused on the road. Joao Verissimo, an assistant professor at the University of Lisbon and lead author of the study, says that both brain functions are skills developed with lifelong practice and can become strong enough to outweigh any underlying cognitive decline. Our brains reach peak capacity in our twenties and from then on slowly get smaller, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all aspects of memory will deteriorate. Researchers, including those reporting in Psychology of Ageing journal, have shown that while our episodic memory (recollection of past experiences) tends to decline with age, our semantic memory (the ability to recall facts and general knowledge) remains relatively stable — and can even get stronger. Examples of semantic memory include language, vocabulary and numbers. Your procedural memory, such as the ability to ride a bike or use a keyboard, also remains stable, according to research at the University of Illinois. Older people tend to be happier with their lot in life, according to a study of 1,000 people led by Susan Charles, a professor of psychological science at the University of California, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Life in old age is often more stable, enabling us to focus more on the present and less on planning for the future, and people tend to feel more satisfied with their close friends and family members, Charles found in her research lasting over two decades. 'This mindset is one possible explanation for high levels of wellbeing later in life,' she says. Another study of 1,546 adults aged 21-100 in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry showed that feelings of life satisfaction, wellbeing and happiness improved from 21 through to the nineties. According to the most recent Sport England Active Lives Survey, activity levels for those aged 55-plus are the highest since records began a decade ago — and, what is more, it is those aged over 75 who are driving the upward trend. About 43 per cent of people aged over 75 are physically active, meaning they average 150 minutes of physical activity per week, compared to just 33.4 per cent during the year to November 2016. At the other end of the age spectrum, the proportion of 16 to 35-year olds who are active is 2.3 per cent down on 2015-16. 'There has been a huge growth in activity levels for older adults,' says Nick Pontefract, chief strategy officer at Sport England. 'This is helping to support people to live healthier and happier lives.' The adage that with age comes wisdom is true according to a growing body of researchers who suggest that older people who are not diminished by dementia and cognitive decline are more astute and well-balanced than younger counterparts., for instance. One landmark paper from the University of Michigan, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggested that over 60s were more better able resolve social conflicts largely because of their ability to emphasise different perspectives on issues, to compromise, and to recognise the limits of their knowledge. And last year the psychologist Laura Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Centre on Longevity, told Scientific American that 'the belief about old people is that they're all kind of the same, they're doddering, and that ageing is this steady downward slope' is a gross misunderstanding. Octogenarians 'include the wisest people on the planet', Carstensen said.
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Olivia Roderigo offers 'free therapy' to crew after gruelling 17-month tour
Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo is paving the way for mental health awareness after her guitarist revealed that the singer paid for therapy for the entire crew on tour. The 22-year-old's 'Guts World Tour' ran from February 2024 up until the final show in Manchester at the start of July 2025. In total, she performed 102 shows across several continents: a tall order for both her and her crew. But Rodrigo's guitarist Daisy Spencer has revealed that their mental health was a huge priority to the singer. Speaking to The Stage Left podcast, she revealed that professional therapy was on offer throughout the tour for all band and crew members. She said: 'Olivia and our tour manager, Marty Hom, made accessible and free therapy for all of the touring personnel.' She added: 'I have never had anything like that. And that reignited the importance of therapy to me because I had just kind of fallen off for so long.' The 'Vampire' singer is not the only star advocating for mental health, either. Lewis Capaldi recently teamed up with the online therapy platform BetterHelp to give his fans 734,000 hours of free online therapy – a reference to the 734 days the artist took to focus on his mental health after he experienced difficulties during a 2023 Glastonbury Festival set. Positivity and success coach Casey Paul believes celebrities being vocal about mental health can have a 'massive' impact. She says: 'When leaders speak openly about mental health, it gives everyone else permission to do the same and breaks the stigma that can often be attached to it. Instead of mental health being seen as a private issue, or a weakness it becomes part of normal culture – something human, and worth supporting.' Of course, while touring can be a particularly stressful environment, therapy can be beneficial in a wide range of workplaces. Lauren Baird is a psychotherapist at Inner Glow Therapy who has witnessed many people coming in with burnout. She reveals: 'So many people come to therapy struggling with their mental health, but terrified to say anything at work, scared they'll be seen as weak, unprofessional, or just not good enough. 'That kind of stigma has been around for years, especially when it comes to things like anxiety, depression or burnout. You'd never question someone taking time off for a physical illness, but when it comes to emotional health, there's still this fear it'll be judged as a character flaw." However, she says that she has been seeing a definite shift in attitudes. She says: 'More workplaces are starting to include therapy as part of their wellbeing offering — and culturally, we're beginning to understand that emotional regulation and resilience are just as important as physical health.' Plus, she points out that it's also beneficial for the employer too. She says: 'We also know from research that emotionally supportive workplaces have more productive teams and fewer cases of long-term sickness.' According to the Mental Health Foundation, poor mental wellbeing costs British employers an estimated £42 billion to £45 billion per year, through working while sick, sickness absence and staff turnover. Meanwhile, in 2022 and 2023 were an estimated 875,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
DWP benefits U-turn leaves £4.8 billion hole in the budget
But they also removed a key plank of Sir Keir Starmer's welfare reform agenda, delaying changes to Pip until after a review of the benefit not due to conclude until autumn 2026. Disability groups have shared their concerns Many disability charities were unhappy with the result," despite some concessions. James Watson-O'Neill, Chief Executive of the national disability charity Sense, said: "Today's vote in Parliament is deeply distressing. By choosing to advance this bill, MPs have voted for measures the government's data say will push 150,000 disabled people into poverty. This is not the right way to reform our welfare system — it's a move that has already caused significant fear and anxiety within the disabled people's community. "We're incredibly grateful to all those who spoke out against the bill. Their efforts helped secure important government concessions, which mean some disabled people will retain the support they rely on. However, this creates a deeply unfair two-tier system — protecting some while leaving new claimants facing serious financial hardship. And the government's latest concession, to delay the tightening of the criteria for PIP, doesn't change the fact that it will eventually become harder for new claimants to access this vital benefit. "Looking ahead, we urge the government to immediately reconsider their proposal to remove the health element of Universal Credit from young people until they turn 22. We also want to work constructively with them to expand the eligibility criteria for additional support for those who will never be able to work, to ensure no one is left behind." PIP IS NOT AN OUT-OF-WORK BENEFIT PIP is an allowance that helps disabled people with the extra costs incurred by having a disability. You can claim it whether you work or not. The media and government narrative about PIP is incorrect and must be challenged KILL THE BILL!… — Atlanta 🦹🏻♀️ #DisabilityRebellion (@areyoflight) June 30, 2025 But Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, shared these concerns: 'Tonight's concessions by the UK government are a victory for not just the millions of people across the country who are disabled, but for every single one of us who may find ourselves disabled one day. Removing Clause 5 is clearly the right decision given the lack of evidence these measures would encourage anyone with a mental health problem to return to work, and the very clear risk of pushing people into poverty, worsening their mental health. Despite this, this bill remains deeply flawed. 'We remain concerned by the measures in this bill which both reduce the amount paid to recipients of the health element of Universal Credit, and limits its eligibility to those over the age of 22. These measures are discriminatory, and will do little to support people back into the workplace. The UK government should drop the implementation of these measures too." What will happen next? Ahead of a crucial vote on cuts to disability benefits, our new evidence casts doubt on whether jobs are even available for disabled people facing cuts 📢 The analysis found that the parts of the country among the hardest hit by the cuts have fewer job opportunities 1/3 — Joseph Rowntree Foundation (@jrf_uk) June 24, 2025 With no clarity on when the changes will be enacted or what they might entail, the Chancellor now faces a fiscal headache as a forecast £4.8 billion in welfare savings have been whittled away to nothing. Economists at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and Resolution Foundation think tanks warned that Tuesday's concessions meant Ms Reeves could now expect no 'net savings' by 2029/30 – a key year for meeting her fiscal targets. IFS deputy director Helen Miller said the move had effectively halved the Chancellor's 'margin of error' against her main fiscal rule, once again raising the possibility of tax rises in the autumn. On top of that, a stuttering economy and global instability could mean she has even less room for manoeuvre than expected. I am going into the Commons Chamber to speak against & vote against the Government's appalling Bill to cut disability benefits. I urge all Labour MPs to do so. I was elected to protect disabled people not harm them. — John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) July 1, 2025 Ms Miller said: 'Since departmental spending plans are now effectively locked in, and the Government has already had to row back on planned cuts to pensioner benefits and working-age benefits, tax rises would look increasingly likely.' The Resolution Foundation's Ruth Curtice agreed that there would be no savings in 2029/30, but suggested changes to universal credit – almost the only part of the Government's proposals still standing – could save money in the longer term. On Wednesday morning, the Conservatives accused Labour of making billions in unfunded spending commitments, including both the U-turns on welfare and the partial reinstatement of winter fuel payments. In a letter to Ms Reeves, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride demanded to know where the money was coming from, asking: 'Will you raise tax or increase borrowing?' Ministers have repeatedly insisted that Labour will not raise taxes on 'working people', specifically income tax, national insurance or VAT. Recommended reading: But Ms Reeves also remains committed to her 'iron clad' fiscal rules, which require day-to-day spending to be covered by revenues – not borrowing – in 2029/30. Meanwhile, Sir Keir himself will face a grilling from MPs on Wednesday as he attempts to repair relations with his backbenchers. The weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions comes just a day after 49 of his own MPs voted against his welfare reforms – the biggest rebellion of his premiership so far – while several backbenchers described the Government's handling of the issue as 'chaotic' and 'a shambles'.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
1
The UK is heading for its second heatwave of the summer, and we're only one month in. The Met Office advises: 'The hottest day of the current spell is expected on Monday, with temperatures widely exceeding 30°C in central and eastern England, possibly reaching 34°C in London'. But, before you rush out in sunnies and shorts, it might be a good idea to check your medicine cabinet: research has found that certain medications can have physiological effects on the body, causing the core body temperature to rise above 40°C. Other medications have been found to make people far more sensitive to heat. According to the Mental Health Foundation: 'One adult in eight receives mental health treatment, with 10.4% [of those] receiving medication and 3% receiving psychological therapy. 'The overlap within the statistics is due to 1.3% of those receiving treatment reporting receiving both medication and psychological therapy.' Mental health medications fall under a number of different categories including Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Antipsychotic Drugs (ACDs), and beta blockers which are often used to treat anxiety and heart conditions. All of these medications can cause heat intolerance. Additionally, blood pressure medications can cause heat intolerance, too. According to Centers for Disease Control: 'Certain combinations of medications, such as the combined use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) with a diuretic, may significantly increase risk of harm from heat exposure.' To stay cool during hot weather, the NHS recommends: 'Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. 'Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.' They also advise keeping windows closed during the day and opened at night once temperatures have somebody potentially experiencing heat exhaustion, the health service advises the following tips: Move them to a cool place Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too This Is One Of The Worst Things You Can Do To Gardens In A Heatwave The Unexpected Effect Heatwaves Have On Your Phone's Signal So, Should You Actually Close Your Windows During A Heatwave?
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
1
The UK is heading for its second heatwave of the summer, and we're only one month in. The Met Office advises: 'The hottest day of the current spell is expected on Monday, with temperatures widely exceeding 30°C in central and eastern England, possibly reaching 34°C in London'. But, before you rush out in sunnies and shorts, it might be a good idea to check your medicine cabinet: research has found that certain medications can have physiological effects on the body, causing the core body temperature to rise above 40°C. Other medications have been found to make people far more sensitive to heat. According to the Mental Health Foundation: 'One adult in eight receives mental health treatment, with 10.4% [of those] receiving medication and 3% receiving psychological therapy. 'The overlap within the statistics is due to 1.3% of those receiving treatment reporting receiving both medication and psychological therapy.' Mental health medications fall under a number of different categories including Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) Antipsychotic Drugs (ACDs), and beta blockers which are often used to treat anxiety and heart conditions. All of these medications can cause heat intolerance. Additionally, blood pressure medications can cause heat intolerance, too. According to Centers for Disease Control: 'Certain combinations of medications, such as the combined use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) with a diuretic, may significantly increase risk of harm from heat exposure.' To stay cool during hot weather, the NHS recommends: 'Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. 'Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.' They also advise keeping windows closed during the day and opened at night once temperatures have somebody potentially experiencing heat exhaustion, the health service advises the following tips: Move them to a cool place Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too This Is One Of The Worst Things You Can Do To Gardens In A Heatwave The Unexpected Effect Heatwaves Have On Your Phone's Signal So, Should You Actually Close Your Windows During A Heatwave?
